Hundreds of cats have been pulled out of an animal rescue nonprofit in Upland after police and animal-control officials say they developed credible information pointing to abuse, neglect and malnourished animals inside. Officers estimate the facility may have held between 300 and 500 animals total, making it one of the larger animal welfare cases the city has seen.
The seizure unfolded after Upland police served a search warrant at an industrial complex on 11th Street, just east of Central Avenue, according to ABC7 Los Angeles. Animal shelter services employees removed cats from inside the rescue as part of the operation, the outlet reports.
The Upland Animal Control Department says it received complaints about conditions at the nonprofit and, over time, developed credible information about potential animal abuse, neglect and malnourished cats. Authorities also received a report describing deplorable conditions inside the facility, per the same account.
Neighbors Noticed Something Was Off
Surrounding businesses and visitors reported sights, sounds and smells suggesting something was wrong at the location, the report notes. Those accounts, combined with the complaints logged by animal control, helped shape the investigation that ultimately led to the search warrant.
So far, no one has been arrested in connection with the case, and it remains unclear per Upland police whether anyone will ultimately face charges. If charges are filed, they could range anywhere from misdemeanors to felonies, with the severity depending on the degree of neglect and the extent of any injury or illness found among the animals, the outlet's report states.
How the Case Compares to a Recent L.A. County Operation
The scale of the Upland case echoes a similar effort earlier this year in Los Angeles County, where authorities estimated roughly 700 dogs and cats were present on a property slated for rescue during a March 20 operation, according to Los Angeles County. That operation, like the one in Upland, involved a search warrant and a large-scale removal of animals from a single site.
For now, the Upland investigation continues, with no arrests made and the ultimate outcome of any potential charges still undetermined.
